Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor emission from decorative candles

This study investigates PAHs indoor emissions from burning decorative candle in an indoor environment because emissions from burning wax in home have rarely been addressed. A total of 12 air samples were collected during the entire burning period of the decorative candles. Particulate and gaseous PAHs emissions were simultaneously measured by passing effluent through a filter (to collect particulate-phase PAHs), a cold trap and ORBO 43 tubes (to capture gaseous-phase PAHs). Analysis involved ultrasound extraction, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).The measured total PAHs concentration (particulate + aqueous phase + gas phases) for the candles, reported as mass of PAHs emitted/mass of candle burning, was between 2.3 and 49.8 μg kg−1 and mean 15 μg kg−1. Considering the volume of sampled air, the concentrations of total PAHs ranged from 7 ng m−3 to 267 ng m−3. Concentrations of B[a]P emitted by candles ranged from 0.1 to 7.5 ng m−3, while total carcinogenic PAHs, expressed as B[a]eq, ranged from 0.2 to 10.7 ng m−3. The values of all the isomeric indices calculated in this research are in good agreement to literature data for emissions from high temperature processes.

► Paper describes a simple sampling and analysis procedure to analyze 18 PAHs indoor.
► The method involves a combination of cold trap, glass filter and sorbent cartridges.
► The analysis was carried out without purification steep, by GC/MS.
► The domestic use of decorative candles is increasing; PAHs tend to accumulate in homes.
► PAHs indoor exceeded background concentrations indicating that the candles were a source.